Bernadette Smith 3/12/25 Bernadette Smith 3/12/25

When a Client Complains About “Too Much DEI”: How to Respond Without Apologizing

When clients resist DEI, don’t retreat. Here’s how to respond with clarity, curiosity, and confidence.

Bernadette Smith 3/12/25 Bernadette Smith 3/12/25

The #1 Mistake Professionals Make with Culturally Diverse Clients (and How to Avoid It)

Making assumptions kills trust—especially across cultures. Here’s how to pause, ask, and connect instead.

Bernadette Smith 3/7/25 Bernadette Smith 3/7/25

5 Things / Let’s Go

I felt my energy shift this week from stagnation to action. I’m rested, recharged, and ready (and yes, ready to play pickleball outside). How about you? Something is moving. Conversations are picking up. People are realizing that waiting doesn’t make the work go away—it just makes it harder later.

Bernadette Smith 3/5/25 Bernadette Smith 3/5/25

How to Get to Know a Client Personally—Without Making It Weird

Personal rapport matters—but assumptions kill trust. Here’s how to connect without crossing a line.

Bernadette Smith 2/28/25 Bernadette Smith 2/28/25

5 Things / Strategic Play

I'm competing in an LGBTQ pickleball tournament today and slowly finding a queer pickleball community here in Chicago. I played five times this week; I had plenty of time with no keynotes on the schedule. Entrepreneurship brings uncertainty but it also brings the privilege of freedom – if we accept it.